Should Bananas Be Individually-Wrapped?

From another article at Mail Online, and adding some sense: "The company has taken the view the yellow skin is not quite enough, and will sell individually-wrapped bananas at petrol stations, convenience stores, leisure centres and gyms."

With this sales arena in mind, it might not be that bad of an idea.

I did not check the Atlantic link, it may have the same information.

Those of you old enough to remember the days of purchasing individually sliced cheese in a stack pack may remember the ruckus it created from those feeling green at the time when the industry switched to individually wrapped slices. However, it almost totally eliminated the product loss through drying out in the refrigerator. So the net benefit was dramatic and now is almost the only way it is available. Bananas may not be similar in all respects because of its limited shelf life but if they can really increase their life by 6 days, that is a dramatic savings in lost produce. More produce is lost through the back door of a super market than any other product area. I believe it is in the 15-25% area.

I still buy "American" cheese that is not individually wrapped. In fact, I hate those individually wrapped slices. Sam's Club sells 5 pound blocks with either 120 or 160 slices "Bakers and Chefs" brand. It's just as good at the Borden brand. The local commissary at the Naval Academy sells the 3 pound block of Borden that isn't individually wrapped. I keep it in a plastic container and it doesn't dry out. The big blocks fit nicely in a Tupperware celery keeper. That container is nice because it has a "raised" ventilated floor so the slices in on the bottom don't get wet and slimy.

Besides, the individual wrappers "slow me down" and with cheese, that's not a good thing, but I'm basically OK with the idea of individually wrapped bananas for those who would be willing to PAY for the premium.

I just wish I could buy my cheese from the "National Cheese Emporium" with its lovely bazouki music.

One thing I know for sure...

When you make a toasted cheese samwich, take that plastic stuff off FIRST!

That individually wrapped stuff is a cheese like substance [process cheese], not to be confused with actual cheese

I like red bananas which have a much longer shelf life & a richer taste

You say, "The produce that gets tossed out at the store is in rough shape."

The claim is that individually wrapping each banana will keep them from getting in rough shape. Less rough shape = less purchased by the store only to be thrown away, thus offsetting the cost of increased wrapping. In the end, more bananas are provided to the public. The question will be is the cost of the wrapping more or less than the cost of the wasted produce?

In the end, the price of the banana will be determined by supply and demand. Whether or not the produce/grocery store or banana farmer profit from it is yet to be determined.

There are many basic rule's (one should apply) applied when preparing a product for market.

Some of the most basic things that can be done to decrease the cost to the reseller (or increase your profit) is to reduce the amount of material required to produce the product. Also it's important to minimize the number of steps required to pack and ship the product.

I'm no accountant, but I think the manpower, factory floor space, and equipment required to individually wrap each banana shipped to the US would only benefit the company providing the banana wrappers. Nor do I think it reflects the interests of the consumer.

You can bet only the prettiest A Grade premium beauty queen bananas would be selected for wrapping.. this would lend to the illusion that it 'worked' and somehow be used to justify the overpricing...

No doubt there can be some yellow spotted banana at the gas station.. but it's a gas station.. and besides.. that's when they're most delicious!

...I say go for it! They won't be around for long.. ..but the lost revenue will always be remembered..

Where're Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron when we need them?

We oldies will remember the ripening rooms where green fruit was placed in an atmosphere of (ethane?/ethylene?) to promote ripening. Many fruit naturally generate this gas, so any way of slowing up the release is going to slow ripening and consequently rotting, especially with bananas. Again a money decision re cost of wrapping vs travel and storage time.

No.
next!
Del

Oh, by the way, I thought bananas were already individually wrapped. If not, are we supposed to eat that yellow outer skin? blah

Wastful or useful is mostly a matter of data.

"James Harvey, Del Monte's UK managing director told the Fresh Produce Journal that the individual wrappings were more sustainable as they reduce the frequency of delivery and the amount of waste going to landfills."

Did James Harvey supply any data to support his statement?

I think I will live to see the day when they individually pack cherries, mulberries, gooseberries, olives...

And support it with an argument like-too much urban development, reduced farm labor for agriculture, food production is going down, more transport involved, cost of each cherry is high, Save the Cherry!